Aaron Montes

This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.

Aaron Montes

Nonpartisan

Elections and appointments

Last election

November 3, 2020

Education

Bachelor's

The University of Texas, 2015

Personal

Birthplace

El Paso, Texas

Religion

Catholic

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

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Campaign Instagram

Aaron Montes ran for election to the El Paso City Council to represent District 7 in Texas. He lost in the general election on November 3, 2020.

Montes completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Aaron Montes was born in El Paso, Texas. He earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Texas at El Paso in 2015. Montes' career experience includes working in journalism.

Elections

2020

See also: City elections in El Paso, Texas (2020)

General election

General election for El Paso City Council District 7

Incumbent Henry Rivera defeated Aaron Montes in the general election for El Paso City Council District 7 on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Henry Rivera (Nonpartisan)	56.9	13,325
		Aaron Montes (Nonpartisan)	43.1	10,076

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 23,401
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Campaign themes

2020

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Aaron Montes completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Montes' responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Multimedia journalist Aaron J. Montes lives in El Paso, TX, and is a candidate for the El Paso City Council District 7 seat. He is a former reporter for the El Paso Times as a Watchdog reporter. He covered local government, immigration and general news for the newspaper. He has participated in collaborations with the USA Today Network and New York Times covering immigration in El Paso and along the southern border.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• El Paso needs good leadership to bring better paying jobs, maintain our roads, adopt better spending policy and bring respect for our residents. I am the best candidate to bring those values to City Hall.
• Our city deserves more than the mediocre leadership it has today. District 7 deserves more from its representative. Council members should not be calling residents foul names during meetings.
• El Paso is at risk of hollowing out its residential and commercial tax base because local government will not stand up to developers. I will hold developers accountable and fight for District 7's fair share of public investment.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

El Paso's residential and commercial tax base is at risk of hollowing out and residents don't see the benefit of what they pay in taxes. We need to turn this around by implementing progressive policies that will require developers to pay their fair share in public investment.

Our city loses $5 million a year waiving requirements of developers putting more of a burden on taxpayers. I intend on reforming that policy and looking into raising impact fees on developments that are planned further toward the city limits.

What qualities does this office possess that makes it a unique and important part of the state government and legal system?

At the city level, you enact policy that directly impacts people faster than other forms of government. And, the influence this kind of office has is important in advocating for the kind of changes that the people of our city are looking for.

Change happens at the city level. Yes, the federal government can help respond to societal changes but at the municipal level, that is the responsibility everyday.

This office can uplift the lives of people in marginalized communities and be a proponent in protecting people's civil rights.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

There are many historical and religious figures I have looked up to when trying to make sense of the world. I have faith in Jesus Christ, which fuels my spirit when I need the courage to do what is right no matter how difficult.

In a mortal sense, I look to figures like former LA Times journalist Ruben Salazar, former President John F. Kennedy, Cesar Chavez, Martin Luther King, Dolores Huerta, and Harriet Tubman to name a few people.

What I admire about them, is, they saw injustice in the world both politically and socially and they decided they would do something about it. They were well aware of how difficult it would be and how challenging it would be but they decided they were going to do something about it.

I hope to do the same throughout my life because I care about the people in my city, in Ciudad, Juarez, the U.S. and people all around the world. I just want to do my part to make this world a better place for future generations.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

I would recommend: "Let the Word Go Forth," a collection of President Kennedy's writings, speeches and letters.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

A City Council member should be respectful of others, have a good temperament and believe in Democratic practices and spirit. Our government is setup on the premise that it is built by, for and of the people.

An elected official should uphold those beliefs and defend them.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I often ponder on how I can be a better neighbor, friend and member of our society. I subscribe to the idea that being friendly and understanding are good underlying traits to have in order to build a neighborly relationship with others. But I also do believe that being steadfast and brave is required in order to enact the changes our country needs today.

Sometimes, it is a difficult thing to go against public opinion because of the social and internal conflicts it creates. But when something needs to be done, it needs to be done.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

The core responsibilities of an elected official should be preserving their constituents' civil rights, expanding agency to marginalized communities, and standing up for the people and not special interests.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I try not to think of legacy because I try living day to day. But if someone thought of me or wrote about me, I'd hope they found me to care about my home, community and the people in it.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

I'll never forget getting ready for school and seeing the Twin Towers in New York City on the television the morning of September 11, 2001. I was nine years old at the time.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

My first job was as a game advisor at GameStop on Alameda and Americas in El Paso. I was attending Burges High School and balanced having a job and being the head photographer for my school's student publications. I had that job until I graduated and began attending the University of Texas at El Paso.

What is your favorite book? Why?

The Bible, I love reading it and feeling the spiritual strength I need to get through life.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

Superman.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

La Santa by Bad Bunny

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

I have battled crippling anxiety in my adulthood. It's a growing issue in the United States and while it's still being studied, it's an important issue to talk about.

People who experience mental illness should feel able to talk about their experiences without fear of what others will think of them. And, have the support they need to battle it.

Are there any little-known powers or responsibilities held by this office that you believe more people should be aware of?

A city representative votes on the budgeting of a city and at times can enact social changes but it also has an ability to provide agency to voices that need to be heard.

The ability to appoint people to different boards and committees is one that can have a big influence in governance and whether the public's interests are being represented in policy.

I am conscious of that and intend on making appointments of individuals who have this community and their neighbors in mind and not special interests.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for holders of this office to have previous experience in government or politics?

It can be a benefit if that individual cares and advocates for the community and the rights of residents.

But it's not a prerequisite for someone who is running for office. Government at all levels should be represented by people from all walks of life in our society. Having a well-balanced government with representatives who have various experience only shapes well-rounded policy.

What kind of skills or expertise do you believe would be the most helpful for the holders of this office to possess?

Anyone who sits in a City Council seat needs to have a command of how municipal government works, what influence they can have, what policy they want to set, an ability to listen and have respect.

This office has a responsibility to implement the kind of changes the community needs.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

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